Notification social networking

ABSTRACT

A method. The method includes a) sending a first transaction notification message comprising an original payee identifier to a user. The original payee identifier may be part of original transaction information associated with a first transaction. At some point, the user sees this transaction information and wants to correct one or more items in the transaction information. For example, the user may not recognize that the original payee identifier is wrong or is otherwise unrecognizable. The user may then contact a central server (e.g., via a Web site) and may provide updated transaction information such as an updated merchant identifier to the central server computer. This updated transaction information may be stored so that subsequent transactions can be accurately conducted and reported to the user, and other uses.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

BACKGROUND

When a user conducts a purchase transaction with a credit card or adebit card, details of that transaction are forwarded to the consumer atsome point in time. The consumer may be notified of the transaction inhis monthly credit or debit card statement, and/or may be notified ofthe transaction by a transaction notification alert that is sent to theconsumer's phone. The transaction notification may include a merchantidentifier, the date on which the transaction occurred, and the amountof the purchase.

In some cases, the merchant identifier that is sent to the consumer isnot clear and the consumer may not recognize the particular merchantidentifier in the notification alert or in his monthly statement. Forexample, in some cases, the actual merchant that conducted thetransaction may operate under a tradename that is different than thereal name of the merchant. When the consumer does not recognize the nameof the merchant in the transaction notification alert or in the monthlystatement, the consumer may get the incorrect impression that some typeof fraud is occurring. The consumer may erroneously contact the issuerto report the alleged fraud, only to learn that the transaction waslegitimate and that a mistake had been made.

In other instances, the transaction information that is sent to the usermay simply be incorrect. For example, the name of the merchant in thetransaction notification may simply be incorrect or misspelled, due to adata error at a central server. If this information is incorrect, thenthe central server that provides such transaction information to theconsumer and others may continue to provide incorrect information. Itwould be desirable if there was an efficient way to “clean” transactiondata so that incorrect data in a payment processing system (or the like)is corrected in a timely manner so that subsequent transactions areconducted and reported with accuracy.

Embodiments of the invention address these and other problems,individually and collectively.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods, computer readablemedia, devices, computer apparatuses, and systems.

One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method comprising: a)sending a first transaction notification message comprising an originalpayee identifier to a user; b) receiving updated transaction informationat a central server computer; c) storing the updated transactioninformation in a database; and d) sending a second transactionnotification message using the updated transaction information to theuser.

Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a method comprising:a) receiving a first transaction notification message, wherein the firsttransaction notification message comprises an original payee identifier;b) providing updated transaction information to a central servercomputer after receiving the first transaction notification message; andc) receiving a second transaction notification message, wherein thesecond transaction notification message is generated using the updatedtransaction information.

In a specific example, a transaction notification message with amerchant identifier (e.g., Yummy Brands Store 12345) is sent to a phoneoperated by a user. The merchant identifier may not be readilyidentifiable by the user. If this is the case, then the user may providean updated identifier to the central server computer by contacting a Website accessible to the central server computer. For example, acorporation such as Yummy Brands may identify a particular restaurant ina particular city as “Yummy Brands Store 12345” and this may bereflected in a transaction notification message that is sent to theuser. However, when the user receives a message or an indication on hismonthly statement of a charge at “Yummy Brands Store 12345,” he may notrecognize it. Upon learning that Yummy Brands Store 12345 operates underthe tradename “Tennessee Fried Chicken” in Smalltown, Calif., the usermay contact a central server that operates a central Website. On thatWebsite, the user may enter an updated merchant identifier such as“Tennessee Fried Chicken” in Smalltown, Calif. for “Yummy Brands Store12345.” The updated merchant identifier may be more easily recognizableby the user when he receives subsequent transaction notificationmessages from that merchant.

The Web site can be used for other purposes as well. For example, theWeb site can be used as a site for rating the particular merchant andother merchants. The merchant may see the rating information pertinentto the merchant, and could also send coupons to the user and/or mayrespond to user comments. In some embodiments, the ratings can beprovided by users in response to alert messages that are received by themerchant.

Other embodiments of the invention are directed to computer readablemedia comprising computer code for implementing a method, such as theabove-described methods, executed by a processor. Yet other embodimentsof the invention are directed to devices and computers comprising thecomputer readable media.

These and other embodiments of the invention are described in furtherdetail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a system according to an embodiment ofthe invention that can be used in some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of components in a payment processingnetwork.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart illustrating a method according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart illustrating a method according to anotherembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a mobile phone with a first notification message.

FIG. 6 shows a screenshot of a user interface.

FIG. 7 shows a mobile phone with a second notification message.

FIG. 8 shows a mobile phone with a message comprising an offer.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a computer apparatus.

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of components in a mobile phone.

FIG. 11 shows an illustration of a card.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method including a)sending a first transaction notification message comprising an originalpayee identifier (e.g., a merchant identifier) to a user. The originalpayee identifier may be part of original transaction informationassociated with a first transaction. At some point, the user sees thistransaction information and wants to correct one or more items in thetransaction information. For example, the user may not recognize thatthe original payee identifier is wrong or is otherwise unrecognizable.In another example, the user may simply determine that there is an errorin the transaction notification information. Other types of data errorsinclude transaction amount calculation errors, transaction type errors(e.g., the transaction is a card present transaction, but the alertmessage indicated that the transaction is a card not present type oftransaction); the transaction was a contactless transaction when thealert message indicated that the transaction was a magnetic stripetransaction), etc. In any case, the user may then contact a centralserver (e.g., via a Web site) and may provide updated transactioninformation such as an updated merchant identifier to the central servercomputer. This updated transaction information may be stored so thatsubsequent transactions can be accurately conducted and reported to theuser, and other users.

I. Exemplary Systems

A system according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 shows a system 20 that can be used in an embodiment of theinvention. The system 20 includes a merchant 22 and an acquirer 24associated with the merchant 22. In a typical payment transaction, aconsumer such as user 30 may purchase goods or services at the merchant22 using a portable consumer device such as portable consumer device B32-2 (or portable consumer device A 32-1 or consumer device 32-3). Theuser 30 may be an individual, or an organization such as a business thatis capable of purchasing goods or services. The acquirer 24 cancommunicate with an issuer 28 via a payment processing network 26.

As used herein, an “issuer” is typically a business entity (e.g., abank) which maintains financial accounts for the user and often issues aportable consumer device such as a credit or debit card to the user. A“merchant” is typically an entity that engages in transactions and cansell goods or services. An “acquirer” is typically a business entity(e.g., a commercial bank) that has a business relationship with aparticular merchant or other entity. Some entities can perform bothissuer and acquirer functions. Embodiments of the invention encompasssuch single entity issuer-acquirers.

In FIG. 1, user 30 can use at least two different types of portableconsumer devices including consumer device A 32-1 and portable consumerdevice B 32-2. In one example, consumer device A 32-1 may be in the formof a phone, while portable consumer device B 32-2 may be in the form ofa card. The consumer device A 32-1 may consequently be used tocommunicate with the issuer 28 via a telecommunications gateway 60, atelecommunications network 70, and a payment processing network 26. Thedifferent consumer devices A 32-1 and B 32-2 could be linked to the sameissuer account number, or could be linked to respectively differentissuer account numbers. User 30 may also use a consumer device 32-3 suchas a personal computer to communicate with the payment processingnetwork 26 and/or the merchant 22 via the Internet 72.

The consumer devices according to embodiments of the invention may be inany suitable form. In some embodiments, the consumer devices areportable in nature and may be portable consumer devices. Suitableportable consumer devices can be hand-held and compact so that they canfit into a user's wallet and/or pocket (e.g., pocket-sized). They mayinclude smart cards, ordinary credit or debit cards (with a magneticstrip and without a microprocessor), keychain devices (such as theSpeedpass™ commercially available from Exxon-Mobil Corp.), etc. Otherexamples of portable consumer devices include cellular phones, personaldigital assistants (PDAs), pagers, payment cards, security cards, accesscards, smart media, transponders, and the like. The portable consumerdevices can also be debit devices (e.g., a debit card), credit devices(e.g., a credit card), or stored value devices (e.g., a stored valuecard).

Each consumer device may comprise a body, and a memory comprising acomputer readable medium disposed on or within the body. In addition,the consumer device may also include a processor coupled to the memory,where greater functionality and/or security are desired. If the consumerdevice is capable of receiving data, it may include a computer readablemedium comprising code for causing a processor to execute a methodcomprising a) receiving a first transaction notification message,wherein the first transaction notification message comprisingtransaction information comprising an original payee identifier; b)providing updated transaction information to a central server computerafter receiving the first transaction notification message; and c)receiving a second transaction notification message, wherein the secondtransaction notification message is generated using the updatedtransaction information. The computer readable medium may also comprisee) code for receiving an offer with the updated payee identifier.

The payment processing network 26 may include data processingsubsystems, networks, and operations used to support and deliverauthorization services, exception file services, and clearing andsettlement services. An exemplary payment processing network may includeVisaNet™. Payment processing networks such as VisaNet™ are able toprocess credit card transactions, debit card transactions, and othertypes of commercial transactions. VisaNet™, in particular, includes aVIP system (Visa Integrated Payments system) which processesauthorization requests and a Base II system which performs clearing andsettlement services.

Referring to FIG. 2, the payment processing network 26 may include aserver computer 26(a), and a database 26(b) operatively coupled to theserver computer 26(a). A server computer is typically a powerfulcomputer or cluster of computers. For example, the server computer canbe a large mainframe, a minicomputer cluster, or a group of serversfunctioning as a unit. In one example, the server computer may be adatabase server coupled to a Web server. The payment processing network26 may use any suitable wired or wireless network, including theInternet.

The server computer 26(a) in the payment processing network 26 maycomprise code for causing a processor to implement a method comprising:a) sending a first transaction notification message comprisingtransaction information comprising an original payee identifier to auser; b) receiving updated transaction information at a central servercomputer; c) storing the updated transaction information in a database;and d) sending a second transaction notification message using theupdated transaction information to the user. The method may alsocomprise e) sending an offer to the user after receiving the updatedpayee identifier. In some cases, step e) may be performed before stepd).

The database 26(b) may store any suitable type of information. Suitableinformation that may be stored in the database 26(b) may includeoriginal merchant identifiers, suggested merchant identifiers andupdated merchant identifiers. Other information that may be included inthe database 26(b) may be data that links the original merchantidentifiers to updated and/or suggested merchant identifiers. Yet otherinformation that may be included in the database 26(b) may includeinformation that updates systematic errors in the system.

The server computer 26(a) may also comprise a host site (e.g., a Website) 26(a)-1, and a number of functional modules. The functionalmodules may comprise a notification module 26(a)-2, a merchant updatemodule 26(a)-3, an offer module 26(a)-4, and a payment processing module26(a)-5. Each of these modules may comprise any suitable combination ofhardware and/or software to accomplish the functions described herein.

The Web site 26(a)-1 may be used by a user 30 to provide updatedinformation, and may be used to the user 30 to provide merchantfeedback, as well as receive merchant responses (e.g., offers orresponses to negative comments).

The notification module 26(a)-2 may be configured to send transactionnotification messages in the form of SMS messages, e-mails and the liketo the user. They may be sent, for example, to portable consumer deviceA 32-1 via the telecommunications network 70 and the telecommunicationsgateway 60. Alternatively or additionally, they may be sent to consumerdevice C 32-3 via the Internet 72.

The update module 26(a)-3 may be configured to process updateinformation from the user 30 such as updated merchant identifierinformation. Updated merchant identifiers may be received from the user30 and may be stored in the database 26(b).

The offer module 26(a)-4 is configured to provide offers (e.g., coupons)in response to any updates provided by the user 30. For example, it mayprovide an offer for a merchant 22 after receiving an updated merchantidentifier for that merchant 22. The offer may include the updatedmerchant identifier, and the offer module 26(a)-4 may work with thenotification module to send the offer to the portable consumer device A32-1 and/or the consumer device C 32-3. Alternatively or additionally,it may generate offers independent of any updates provided by the user30.

The payment processing module 26(a)-5 may comprise appropriate logic toprocess electronic payments. For example, the payment processing module26(a)-5 may include an authorization sub-module for receiving andpassing authorization request messages to appropriate issuers forapproval. It may also include a clearing and settlement sub-module forclearing and settling transactions between different issuers andacquirers.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the merchant 22 may also have, or may receivecommunications from, an access device 34 that can interact with theportable consumer device 32. The access devices according to embodimentsof the invention can be in any suitable form. Examples of access devicesinclude point of sale (POS) devices, cellular phones, PDAs, personalcomputers (PCs), tablet PCs, handheld specialized readers, set-topboxes, electronic cash registers (ECRs), automated teller machines(ATMs), virtual cash registers (VCRs), kiosks, security systems, accesssystems, and the like.

If the access device 34 is a point of sale terminal, any suitable pointof sale terminal may be used including card readers. The card readersmay include any suitable contact or contactless mode of operation. Forexample, exemplary card readers can include RF (radio frequency)antennas, magnetic stripe readers, etc. to interact with the portableconsumer devices 32.

II. Exemplary Methods

Methods according to embodiments of the invention can be described withreference to FIGS. 1-8. Although specific sequences of steps aredescribed, it is understood that embodiments of the invention are notlimited to the order of the specific steps described, and that anysuitable combination of steps may be included in embodiments of theinvention.

Referring to FIG. 3, in step 302, the user 30 may conduct a transactionwith a merchant 22. The transaction may be conducted in person, or maybe conducted via the Internet 72, as described above.

In a typical in person purchase transaction, a user 30 purchases a goodor service at the merchant 22 using a portable consumer device such asportable consumer device B 32-2, which may be in the form of a creditcard. The user's portable consumer device B 32-2 can interact with anaccess device 34 such as a POS (point of sale) terminal at the merchant22. For example, the user 30 may take the credit card and may swipe itthrough an appropriate slot in the POS terminal. Alternatively, the POSterminal may be a contactless reader, and the portable consumer device B32-2 may be a contactless device such as a contactless card.

An authorization request message is then forwarded to the acquirer 24.After receiving the authorization request message, the authorizationrequest message is then sent to the payment processing network 26. Thepayment processing network 26 then forwards the authorization requestmessage to the issuer 28 of the portable consumer device B 32-2.

After the issuer 28 receives the authorization request message, theissuer 28 sends an authorization response message back to the paymentprocessing network 26 to indicate whether or not the current transactionis authorized (or not authorized). The transaction processing system 26(or the server computer located therein) then forwards the authorizationresponse message back to the acquirer 24. The acquirer 24 then sends theresponse message back to the merchant 22.

After the merchant 22 receives the authorization response message, theaccess device 34 at the merchant 22 may then provide the authorizationresponse message for the consumer 30. The response message may bedisplayed by the access device 34, or may be printed out on a receipt.

At the end of the day, a normal clearing and settlement process can beconducted by the transaction processing system 26. A clearing process isa process of exchanging financial details between and acquirer and anissuer to facilitate posting to a consumer's account and reconciliationof the consumer's settlement position. Clearing and settlement can occursimultaneously.

In a typical Internet transaction, the user 30 may use his consumerdevice C 32-3 and may contact the Web site of the merchant 22 via theInternet 72. The user 30 may select goods for purchase and may enterinformation onto the Web site including payment card information. Asdescribed above, the merchant 22 may then request authorization of thetransaction from the issuer 28, and a clearing and settlement processmay be performed after the authorization process is performed.

In steps 304 and 306, after the transaction is initiated, a firsttransaction notification message is sent to the user 30 and is receivedby the user 30 at any consumer devices 32-1, 32-3 that he may use. Thesending and the receipt of the transaction notification message may besubstantially contemporaneous with the initiation of the transaction.For example, it may be sent and received by a consumer device within 20seconds, or 1, 5, or 10 minutes of the initiation of the transaction.The initiation of the transaction may occur when the merchant submits anauthorization request message to an issuer for approval.

The transaction notification message may sent by any suitable entity inany suitable manner. In one embodiment, the transaction notificationmessage may be in the form of an electronic message such as an e-mail orSMS message, or a voice response message. For example, referring to FIG.5, transaction notification message such as “Transaction ID: 789101; A$20 purchase was made at Yummy Brands Store 12345 Using CRD2” may besent from the payment processing network 26 and to the user's portableconsumer device 32-1 via the telecommunications network 70 and thetelecommunications gateway 60. In another embodiment, the transactionnotification message may be included with a number of other transactionnotification messages on periodic account statements (e.g., monthlystatements) that are mailed to the user 30.

The first transaction notification message may include any suitable dataelements. For example, the transaction notification message may includea transaction identifier (e.g., a transaction number), the date of thetransaction, the time of the transaction, the amount of the transaction,the type of transaction (e.g., a card not present or a card present typeof transaction) an alias for a portable consumer device such as apayment card, and an original merchant identifier. An “original merchantidentifier” can be an identifier that was originally created by themerchant, and that has not yet been updated by a user.

After reviewing the transaction notification, the user 30 may determinethat the transaction information in the transaction notification needsto be updated. The transaction information may need to be updated forany number of reasons. In one embodiment, the original merchantidentifier may not be readily recognizable by the user 30. For example,referring to FIG. 5, the user 30 may not recognize the original merchantidentifier “Yummy Brands Store 12345,” because “Yummy Brands” is thecorporate name and not the tradename of the merchant that the user 30did business with. Because of the difference in name in the transactionnotification message and the tradename of the merchant involved with thetransaction, the user 30 may also erroneously contact the issuer 28 todispute the transaction only to later learn that he did in fact conductthe transaction. At some point in time, the user 30 will determine thatthe original merchant identifier “Yummy Brands Store 12345” is actuallythe same merchant as “Tennessee Fried Chicken” in Smalltown, Calif. Inother cases, the user may want to customize the name of the merchant sothat it is more recognizable to the user, even though the user mayrecognize the original merchant identifier.

In yet other embodiments, transaction information in a transactionnotification may simply be wrong. For example, the name of the merchant,the amount of the transaction, etc. may be incorrect. This may reflectsome systematic error that is occurring within the system.

As shown in step 308, the user 30 may submit an updated merchantidentifier to the payment processing network 26. This can be done in anynumber of ways. For example, in some embodiments, the user 30 may usethe consumer device A 32-1, consumer device C 32-3, or any othersuitable device, and may contact the Web site 26(a)-1 run by the servercomputer 26(a) in the payment processing network 26. The user 30 may bepresented with a Web page like that shown in FIG. 6, where the user 30may input the transaction identifier, an updated merchant identifier(e.g., “Tennessee Fried Chicken”), and, optionally, the originalmerchant identifier (e.g., “Yummy Brands Store 12345”). Alternatively oradditionally, the user 30 could select from a predetermined list ofpossible updated merchant identifiers in a drop down menu or the like.The list of updated identifiers could have been compiled fromsuggestions from other users, or may have been created by another entity(e.g., merchants, payment processing organizations, issuers, etc.).After clicking the “submit” button or other data entry element, theselection of the updated merchant identifier may be transmitted to theserver computer 26(a), and the update module 26(a)-3 may update thedatabase 26(b) with this information.

In other embodiments, the user 30 may provide information other than anupdated merchant identifier. For example, if the amount of thetransaction is incorrect, then the user may notify a central server ofthis, using the consumer device that received the original transactionnotification message. If many users provide the same or similarresponse, the central server will be informed that a systematic error ispresent and that it should be corrected.

At some point in time, as shown in step 312 in FIG. 3, a secondtransaction is conducted by the user 30 at that same merchant 22. Thesecond transaction may occur in the same or different manner than thefirst transaction that is described above.

Upon receiving the transaction information in an authorization requestmessage from the merchant 22, using the notification module 26(a)-2, theserver computer 26(a) in the payment processing network 26 can retrievethe updated merchant identifier from the database 26(b) and may generatea transaction notification message with the updated merchant identifier,the transaction amount, payment device identifier (e.g., a card alias),the current time and/or date, etc.

Then, in step 314, a second transaction notification message comprisingthe updated merchant identifier (e.g., “Tennessee Fried Chicken”) isthen sent to the user 30, and is thereafter received by the user 30(step 318). For example, a transaction message with the updated merchantidentifier is shown in FIG. 7. The second notification message could bereceived at any of the consumer devices 32-1, 32-2, 32-3. The sendingand the receipt of the transaction notification message may besubstantially contemporaneous with the initiation of the transaction.For example, it may be sent and received by a consumer device within 20seconds, or 1, 5, or 10 minutes of the initiation of the transaction.The initiation of the transaction may occur when the merchant submits anauthorization request message to an issuer for approval.

As illustrated in embodiments described with respect to FIG. 3, atransaction notification message including an updated merchantidentifier may be provided to the user 30. The updated merchantidentifier is immediately recognizable to the user 30, and the user 30is not likely to assume that the transaction is not one that heconducted.

Other embodiments of the invention can relate to validation mechanisms.Data validation mechanisms can include offers that validate that theuser recognizes the updated merchant identifier or any other type ofupdated data. Such offers not only validate changes in the system, butcan also drive business back to merchants and can help appease the user30 if the user provided negative comments about the merchant 22 or otherentity after receiving an erroneous notification message.

With reference to steps 340 and 342 in the flowchart in FIG. 4, in someembodiments, after providing updated information about a particularmerchant, using the offer module 26(a)-4, the server computer 26(a) inthe payment processing network 26 (or other entity such as the issuer28) may send an offer to the user 30, and the user 30 may receive theoffer. The offer may contain the updated merchant identifier, and mayprovide for a discount on the next purchase conducted by the user 30 atthat merchant 22. For example, FIG. 8 shows a coupon that is sent to theuser's portable consumer device 32-1 indicating that a discount can bereceived at the merchant 22.

In step 346, the user 30 can conduct a third transaction at the merchant22 and may redeem the coupon at the merchant 22. The third transactionmay be conducted in the same or different manner than the first andsecond transactions that are described above. During the transaction,offer redemption data and third transaction data (e.g., data such as thetransaction amount, merchant ID, and account number) can then betransmitted from the merchant 22 and received at the payment processingnetwork 26. The offer redemption data may indicate that the user 30intends to redeem the offer. Using the coupon module 26(a)-4 and thepayment processing module 26(a)-5, the server computer 26 can provideapply the discount to the current purchase, and can generate asubsequent authorization request message with the updated transactionamount and may send it to the issuer 28 for approval.

In some embodiments, the notification module 26(a)-2 can then send athird transaction notification message back to any of the consumerdevices (e.g., 32-1 or 32-3). The transaction notification message maycontain the updated merchant identifier, an indication that the offerwas redeemed, the original purchase price, and the amount of thediscount applied.

In step 348, the server computer 26(a) can update the database 26(b) toindicate that the new merchant identifier is correct and that theconsumer validated the new merchant identifier by using the offer withthe new merchant identifier. Since the database 26(b) is updated, anysubsequent transaction notification messages for the user 30 or otherusers may have a more user friendly description of the merchant.

III. Exemplary Computer Apparatuses and Consumer Devices

The various participants and elements in FIG. 1 may operate one or morecomputer apparatuses (e.g., a server computer) to facilitate thefunctions described herein. Any of the elements in FIG. 1 may use anysuitable number of subsystems to facilitate the functions describedherein. Examples of such subsystems or components are shown in FIG. 9.The subsystems shown in FIG. 9 are interconnected via a system bus 775.Additional subsystems such as a printer 774, keyboard 778, fixed disk779 (or other memory comprising computer readable media), monitor 776,which is coupled to display adapter 782, and others are shown.Peripherals and input/output (I/O) devices, which couple to I/Ocontroller 771, can be connected to the computer system by any number ofmeans known in the art, such as serial port 777. For example, serialport 777 or external interface 781 can be used to connect the computerapparatus to a wide area network such as the Internet, a mouse inputdevice, or a scanner. The interconnection via system bus allows thecentral processor 773 to communicate with each subsystem and to controlthe execution of instructions from system memory 772 or the fixed disk779, as well as the exchange of information between subsystems. Thesystem memory 772 and/or the fixed disk 779 may embody a computerreadable medium.

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of another phone 32′ that can be used inembodiments of the invention. The exemplary wireless phone 32′ maycomprise a computer readable medium and a body as shown in FIG. 10. Thecomputer readable medium 32(b) may be present within the body 32(h), ormay be detachable from it. The body 32(h) may be in the form a plasticsubstrate, housing, or other structure. The computer readable medium32(b) may be in the form of (or may be included in) a memory that storesdata (e.g., data relating to issuer specific payment services) and maybe in any suitable form including a magnetic stripe, a memory chip, etc.The memory preferably stores information such as financial information,transit information (e.g., as in a subway or train pass), accessinformation (e.g., as in access badges), etc. Financial information mayinclude information such as bank account information, a bankidentification number (BIN), credit or debit card number information,account balance information, expiration date, user information such asname, date of birth, etc. Any of this information may be transmitted bythe phone 32′.

In some embodiments, information in the memory may also be in the formof data tracks that are traditionally associated with credits cards.Such tracks include Track 1 and Track 2. Track 1 (“International AirTransport Association”) stores more information than Track 2, andcontains the cardholder's name as well as account number and otherdiscretionary data. This track is sometimes used by the airlines whensecuring reservations with a credit card. Track 2 (“American BankingAssociation”) is currently most commonly used. This is the track that isread by ATMs and credit card checkers. The ABA (American BankingAssociation) designed the specifications of this track and all worldbanks must abide by it. It contains the cardholder's account, encryptedPIN, plus other discretionary data.

The phone 32′ may further include a contactless element 32(g), which istypically implemented in the form of a semiconductor chip (or other datastorage element) with an associated wireless transfer (e.g., datatransmission) element, such as an antenna. Contactless element 32(g) isassociated with (e.g., embedded within) phone 32 and data or controlinstructions transmitted via a cellular network may be applied tocontactless element 32(g) by means of a contactless element interface(not shown). The contactless element interface functions to permit theexchange of data and/or control instructions between the mobile devicecircuitry (and hence the cellular network) and an optional contactlesselement 32(g).

Contactless element 32(g) is capable of transferring and receiving datausing a near field communications (“NFC”) capability (or near fieldcommunications medium) typically in accordance with a standardizedprotocol or data transfer mechanism (e.g., ISO 14443/NFC). Near fieldcommunications capability is a short-range communications capability,such as RFID, Bluetooth™, infra-red, or other data transfer capabilitythat can be used to exchange data between the phone 32′ and aninterrogation device. Thus, the phone 32′ is capable of communicatingand transferring data and/or control instructions via both cellularnetwork and near field communications capability.

The phone 32′ may also include a processor 32(c) (e.g., amicroprocessor) for processing the functions of the phone 32 and adisplay 32(d) to allow a user to see phone numbers and other informationand messages. The phone 32′ may further include input elements 32(e) toallow a user to input information into the device, a speaker 32(f) toallow the user to hear voice communication, music, etc., and amicrophone 32(i) to allow the user to transmit her voice through thephone 32′. The phone 32′ may also include an antenna 32(a) for wirelessdata transfer (e.g., data transmission).

An example of a portable consumer device 32″ in the form of a card isshown in FIG. 11. FIG. 11 shows a plastic substrate 32(m). A contactlesselement 32(o) for interfacing with an access device 34 may be present onor embedded within the plastic substrate 32(m). User information 32(p)such as an account number, expiration date, and user name may be printedor embossed on the card. Further, a magnetic stripe 32(n) may also be onthe plastic substrate 32(m). The portable consumer device 32″ may alsocomprise a microprocessor and/or memory chips with user data stored inthem.

As shown in FIG. 11, the portable consumer device 32″ may include both amagnetic stripe 32(n) and a contactless element 32(o). In otherembodiments, both the magnetic stripe 32(n) and the contactless element32(o) may be in the portable consumer device 32″. In other embodiments,either the magnetic stripe 32(n) or the contactless element 32(o) may bepresent in the portable consumer device 32″.

Embodiments of the invention have a number of advantages. First, manyusers can help update and/or “clean” merchant data in a payment system.This provides for more accurate transaction processing and fewerinquiries regarding potentially fraudulent transactions. Second, byproviding updated merchant identifiers, users can provide labels for themerchants that are conducting the transactions with the users.Transaction messages can subsequently be easily recognized by the userstherefore providing for better user experiences. Third, without knowingthat they are doing so, users can help “clean” data in a payment systemso that the data provided to them is accurate. Fourth, in someembodiments, the Web site that the user contacts can be used as both aportal to provide feedback on notification message errors and/orcorrections, as well as a site for providing feedback to and receivingresponses from merchants. Fifth, in some embodiments, offers can beprovided to users after they provide updated information to the system(e.g., to correct errors in the notification messages or to provideupdated identifiers). Such offers can drive business back to themerchants and can also help appease users that may have had a negativeexperience due to a notification message that was incorrect or due to abad merchant experience.

Embodiments of the invention are not limited to the above-describedembodiments. For example, although separate functional blocks are shownfor an issuer, payment processing network, and acquirer, some entitiesperform all of these functions and may be included in embodiments ofinvention.

It should be understood that the present invention as described abovecan be implemented in the form of control logic using computer softwarein a modular or integrated manner. Based on the disclosure and teachingsprovided herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will know andappreciate other ways and/or methods to implement the present inventionusing hardware and a combination of hardware and software

Any of the software components or functions described in thisapplication, may be implemented as software code to be executed by aprocessor using any suitable computer language such as, for example,Java, C++ or Perl using, for example, conventional or object-orientedtechniques. The software code may be stored as a series of instructions,or commands on a computer readable medium, such as a random accessmemory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a magnetic medium such as ahard-drive or a floppy disk, or an optical medium such as a CD-ROM. Anysuch computer readable medium may reside on or within a singlecomputational apparatus, and may be present on or within differentcomputational apparatuses within a system or network.

The above description is illustrative and is not restrictive. Manyvariations of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in theart upon review of the disclosure. The scope of the invention should,therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description,but instead should be determined with reference to the pending claimsalong with their full scope or equivalents.

One or more features from any embodiment may be combined with one ormore features of any other embodiment without departing from the scopeof the invention.

A recitation of “a”, “an” or “the” is intended to mean “one or more”unless specifically indicated to the contrary.

All patents, patent applications, publications, and descriptionsmentioned above are herein incorporated by reference in their entiretyfor all purposes. None is admitted to be prior art.

1. A method comprising: a) sending a first transaction notificationmessage comprising first transaction information comprising an originalpayee identifier to a first portable consumer device operated by a firstuser within 5 minutes of an initiation of a first transaction; b)receiving, from the first user, updated transaction informationcomprising an updated payee identifier at a central server computer; c)storing the updated transaction information in a database; and d)sending a second transaction notification message using the updatedtransaction information to the first portable consumer device operatedby the first user within 5 minutes after an initiation of a secondtransaction, wherein receiving the updated transaction informationcomprises receiving an updated merchant identifier, wherein the originalpayee identifier is an original merchant identifier and wherein theupdated payee identifier is an updated merchant identifier, and whereina), c), and d) are performed by the central server computer, and whereinthe original merchant identifier and the updated merchant identifier areassociated with the same merchant, wherein the method further comprisesreceiving by the central server computer, subsequent transactioninformation for a subsequent transaction conducted by a second user; andresponsive to receiving the subsequent transaction information, sendinga subsequent transaction notification message comprising the updatedtransaction information to a second portable consumer device operated bythe second user within 5 minutes after an initiation of a subsequenttransaction conducted by the second user.
 2. The method of claim 1further comprising providing a list of possible merchant identifiers tothe first user, wherein the list of possible merchant identifiersincludes the updated merchant identifier.
 3. The method of claim 1wherein the method further comprises: e) sending an offer to the firstuser after receiving the updated payee identifier.
 4. The method ofclaim 3 wherein e) is performed before d).
 5. The method of claim 3wherein the method further comprises: f) receiving offer redemption datafrom the merchant, wherein the offer redemption data indicates that thefirst user intends to redeem the offer.
 6. The method of claim 5 furthercomprising sending a third transaction notification message comprisingthe updated merchant identifier, an indication that the offer wasredeemed, an original purchase price, and an amount of a discountapplied.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first transactionnotification message is sent to the first user in response to the firsttransaction initiated by the first user, wherein the first transactionincludes receiving an authorization request message at the centralserver computer from the merchant via an acquirer, sending theauthorization request message to an issuer, receiving an authorizationresponse message from the issuer, and sending the authorization responsemessage to the merchant.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the firsttransaction is conducted using a debit card or credit card associatedwith the first user.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first andsecond portable consumer devices are mobile phones, and wherein thefirst transaction notification message and the second transactionnotification message comprise an alias for a payment card.
 10. Acomputer readable medium comprising computer readable program codeembodied therein, the computer readable program code executed by aprocessor to implement a method comprising: a) sending a firsttransaction notification message comprising first transactioninformation comprising an original payee identifier to a first portableconsumer device operated by a first user within 5 minutes after aninitiation of a first transaction; b) receiving, from the first user,updated transaction information comprising an updated payee identifierat a central server computer; c) storing the updated transactioninformation in a database; and d) sending a second transactionnotification message using the updated transaction information to thefirst portable consumer device operated by the first user within 5minutes after an initiation of a second transaction, wherein receivingthe updated transaction information comprises receiving an updatedmerchant identifier, and wherein the original payee identifier is anoriginal merchant identifier and wherein the updated payee identifier isan updated merchant identifier, wherein a), c), and d) are performed bythe central server computer, and wherein the original merchantidentifier and the updated merchant identifier are associated with thesame merchant, wherein the method further comprises receiving by theserver computer, subsequent transaction information for a subsequenttransaction conducted by a second user; and responsive to receiving thesubsequent transaction information, sending a subsequent transactionnotification message comprising the updated transaction information to asecond portable consumer device operated by the second user within 5minutes after an initiation of a subsequent transaction conducted by thesecond user.
 11. The computer readable medium of claim 10 wherein themethod further comprises providing a list of possible merchantidentifiers to the first user, wherein the list of possible merchantidentifiers includes the updated merchant identifier.
 12. The computerreadable medium of claim 11 wherein the method further comprises sendingan offer to the first user after receiving the updated payee identifier.13. The computer readable medium of claim 10 wherein the method furthercomprises: e) sending an offer to the first user after receiving theupdated payee identifier.
 14. The computer readable medium of claim 13wherein the method further comprises: f) receiving offer redemption datafrom the merchant, wherein the offer redemption data indicates that thefirst user intends to redeem the offer.
 15. A system comprising: aserver computer comprising: (i) a processor, and (ii) a computerreadable medium coupled to the processor, the computer readable mediumcomprising code executable by the processor to execute a methodcomprising a) sending a first transaction notification messagecomprising first transaction information comprising an original payeeidentifier to a first portable consumer device operated by a first userwithin 5 minutes after an initiation of a first transaction, b)receiving, from the first user, updated transaction informationincluding an updated payee identifier at a central server computer, c)storing the updated transaction information in a database, and d)sending a second transaction notification message using the updatedtransaction information to a portable consumer device operated by thefirst user within 5 minutes after an initiation of a second transaction,wherein receiving the updated transaction information comprisesreceiving an updated merchant identifier, and wherein the original payeeidentifier is an original merchant identifier and wherein the updatedpayee identifier is an updated merchant identifier, wherein a), c), andd) are performed by the central server computer, and wherein theoriginal merchant identifier and the updated merchant identifier areassociated with the same merchant, wherein the method further comprisesreceiving by the central server computer, subsequent transactioninformation for a subsequent transaction conducted by a second user; andresponsive to receiving the subsequent transaction information, sendinga subsequent transaction notification message comprising the updatedtransaction information to a second portable consumer device operated bythe second user within 5 minutes after an initiation of a subsequenttransaction conducted by the second user; and a database operativelycoupled to the server computer.
 16. The system of claim 15 wherein themethod further comprises providing a list of possible merchantidentifiers to the first user, wherein the list of possible merchantidentifiers includes the updated merchant identifier.
 17. The system ofclaim 16 wherein the method further comprises sending an offer to thefirst user after receiving the updated payee identifier.
 18. The systemof claim 15 wherein the method further comprises: e) sending an offer tothe first user after receiving the updated payee identifier.
 19. Thesystem of claim 18 wherein the method further comprises: f) receivingoffer redemption data from the merchant, wherein the offer redemptiondata indicates that the first user intends to redeem the offer.